Dr. Elma Augustine, LLC

Therapy focuses on instilling hope, enhancing mental health, fostering personal development and self-empowerment, fostering healing from abuse, trauma, addictions, and resolving emotional and behavioral difficulties. Dr. Augustine’s approach is holistic and is influenced by the trauma-informed model of “How is your ability to be well, communicate with others, build meaningful relationships, live the life you want, impacted by what happened to you?” Dr. Augustine believes healing is possible and that there is always hope. She utilizes an eclectic model to provide a unique treatment plan that each person requires. Dr. Augustine holds a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and is a certified Crisis Intervention Trainer (CIT International) and CIT Training Coordinator. She is also trained in Advanced Accredited Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counseling and is skilled in providing therapeutic services and psychological assessments of children, adolescents and adults, forensic risks and needs assessments, custody and competency evaluations. Dr. Augustine has been a licensed psychologist in Illinois for 31 years. She also held international licenses to practice in the Cayman Islands and Belize. She has served in various clinical and supervisory positions, which include specialized hospital units for the assessment and treatment of abused children and adolescents, adult inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities. She has also worked as Regional Coordinator of Mental Health, Belize, Consultant DCFS Cook South, in Correctional systems: Cook County Jail and Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison. Dr. Augustine has presented papers at local and international conferences, is a published author of a booklet on Color Prejudice, republished in The Psychological Legacy of Slavery, Essays on Trauma, Healing and the Living Past (Edited by Benjamin Bowser and Aime Charles-Nicolas, 2021, listed on Choice Outstanding Academic Titles award McFarland for 2022). She also co-authored a manuscript on ‘Reduction of Hospital Recidivism of the Mentally Ill (Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Better Living Apartment Program). Dr. Augustine is a strong advocate for at risk and disadvantaged individuals faced with social and cultural barriers as well as individuals who are stigmatized because of their struggle with mental illness.